Portable shelter for automobiles



S.'MITCHELL ETAL lPORTABLE! SHELTER FOR AUTOMOBILES Feb. 1o, 1 953 Filed Jan; 12, 195o 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEE 4 Snvmtors SQ/wuel. MITCHELL.

QDHM Gunner Je.

(Ittomeg Feb 10, 1953 s. MITCHELL E-TAL PORTABLE SHELTER FOR AUTOMOBILES Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. l2, 1950 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 PORTABLE SHELTER FOR. AUTOMOBILES Samuel Mitchell and Adam Guidry, Vallejo, Calif.

Application January l2, 1950, Serial No. 138,198

(Ci. l35-4) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to weather shields for the protective covering of automobiles and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable shroud, composed of flexible and Dreierably waterproof material such as treated fabric or sheet plastic, capable of covering a sizeable object such as an automobile and having supporting means associated therewith designed to maintain the hood in proper form and away from actual contact with the surface of the covered object.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined frame and sheet material shelter which is capable of being rapidly set up or dismantled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described arranged to be folded into a very compact bundle of such overall dimensions as will permit ready accommodation thereof in the luggage compartment; of the average automobile.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- Vide a device of the type referred to which although of lightweight construction is suiiiciently sturdy to withstand abnormally rough handling without suering severe damage, and which is capable of being easily set up or dismantled by a person without the need of additional help.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the class described which has been simplified to the point wherein it may be manufactured and sold very economically.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing m'ade by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the portable shelter of our invention with parts broken away so as to show details of the supporting frame.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig-ure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the frame in collapsed condition for storage.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper section of the frame bows Showing the fold- .ing pivots therefor.

Figure 5 is an enlarged portional side elevational view of the lower pivot for the frame bows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a frame bow unit showing the latter` in operative condition.

It is well known that the original color and surface sheen of an automobile, unless the latter' is adequately protected against the weathering and oxidizing actions of sun, wind and rain, will rapidly deteriorate so that the initial beauty of the vehicle is lost and the value of the latter is materially depreciated. Carelessness is not the main factor underlying the comparatively shabby appearance of many automobiles since, in a large number of cases, the latters owners are unable to successfully combat the conditions responsible for such deterioration. In many residential districts there exists an inadequate supply of garage space which necessitates that many surplus vehicles have to be left outdoors and exposed to al1 sorts of weather conditions. In other cases, even though the provision is made to properly house the Vehicle during night hours, the former may be required to transport the owner to and from his place of employment and is most usually left exposed throughout the day to the aforesaid weathering conditions in addition to the finish-destroying actions of industrial smoke and fumes or the corrosive inuence of salt laden mist or spray if the vehicle is located adjacent the seashore or a bay tributary to the ocean. It is obvious under such circumstances that in order to maintain a vehicles finish in prime condition, a person would be required to expend considerable time each day in removing surface dust and stains and in applying wax or other preservative to the body surfaces and-trim.

We have developed a simple and efficient portable shelter, for vehicles which must be left exposed to the weather for exten-ded periods of time, which is capable of being rapidly set up to enclose the vehicle and which, after serving its purpose, may be readily dismantled and Istored in the vehicles luggage compartment. As here shown, a pair of support frame units is provided each of which comprises a main U-shaped bow member 8 constructed of light gauge angle or channel bar or'cyl-indrical tubing to which is pivotally attached'oneor preferably two similarly shaped bow members 9 and l l. Details of the pivotal connection between the members 8, 9 and Il are shown in Figure 5 wherein it will be seen that the vertical side posts l2 of the bow member 8 are provided-adjacent their lower ends with pivot pins I3 on which are journaled the side wings` I4 :of a. sheet metal pivot bracket I'6 conected in a central portion thereof by means of yrivets i? or by spot-welding to the arm portions i8 of the bow member 9, the oppositely extending side wings I9 vof the pivot bracket being engaged with the ends of the arm portions 2i of the bow member II by means of pivot pins 22. The arrangement of the parts 'and the ldisposition of the pivot pins I3 and 22 are 4such that each and both of the bow members .9 and li yare capable of being swung upwardly to posi-tions alongside of the bow member 8 from their lowered and extended positions shown in Figures 1 and 2` This, as will be later explained, facilitates folding of the device into a compact bundle for storage. It will be noted that the end portions of the arm members I8 and 2l are so formed and related to the pivot pins I3 and 22 that when the bow members Il and II are in the lowered and extended positions relative to the bow member a transverse end surface 23 of the arm member is will abut against the adjacent vertical face of the arm member I2 While the side and end surfaces 2li and 2B of the arm member 2`I will abut respectively against the end surface 2l of the member I8, which corresponds to the surface 53, and again-st the aforesaid adjacent vertical fece of the arm member I2. Thus vpositive stops are provided which limit the downward swing of each of the arms 9 vand Il relative to the main supporting member 8. The bottoms `of the side posts I2 are provided with supporting feet 28 hereshown as comprising short sections of material equivalent to that Vused in the side posts which are connected by hinges 29 to swing from their normally horizontal positions at right angles to the side posts to folded positions lying adjacent the vertical face of the side posts. Brace members 3l are provided preferably comprising metal bars Yconiiected at one end to the feet 2s by pivot pins 32 `and having Ylaterally opening notches Iat the Vopposite enfd adapted to releasably engage suitable anchor 'studs 33 provided on the side posts l 2.

As will be seen, particularly in Figure 3, each end frame unit comprising the con-joined -b'ow members 8, 9 and vIl is foldable 4so as to reduce the units to compact bundles of such minimized bulk as will permit their ready storage in limited space such as the luggage compartment-of an automobile. As 'here shown, hinges 34 vare provided at the junctions vof the straight arm portions I2, IS and ZI of each of the bow fram-es with the separate arched transverseA sections 3-6 thereof, each of the latter sections having hinges 31 ldisposed medially of the ends thereof. The Ahinges 34 and 3l are arranged togpermit relatively inward folding of the straight larm portions of the bow frames and :also of the arched Asections of the ira-mes and the Varrangement is also such that when the frames 8, S and l i arelbrought into relative parallelism, the pintles of corresponding hinges 35 and 3l' 'will be axially aligned so as to permit the simultaneous folding without binding of all of the bow members comprising an individual end support frame. This latter folding may be accomplished by firstroollapsing the extended supporting feet 2,8, 'swinging the straight side post portionsof the frames relatively inwardly labout the hinges 514.700 lie adjacent the arched top sections of the `frames and thereafter v folding the latter relatively toward each other 'about the vhinges 3l. This 'forms the compact bundle in which the support frame is shown in Figure d.

In use, vthe pair of support rflames are erected V at opposite ends of the automobile 38 to be sheltered and are suitably held xedly in position. As here shown such positioning means for the frames may comprise loops of flexible wire cable 39 arranged in vertically spaced horizontal runs extending between upper and lower portions oi the relatively spaced posts I2 of the frames and having convergent ends El which may be engaged with stakes ft2 or other suitable anchoring means driven into the ground or otherwise disposed forwardly 'and rearwardly of the automobil-e 38. It is preferred that, as shown in Figure 4, at least one and preferably both of the runs of the guy cables 39 be xedly attached to the posts l2, such as by weaving a portion of the cable laround and between the spaced peg members d3 carried by and extending from the inner faces of the posts l2, and that a turnbuckle dit `or its functional equivalent be provided in each cable loop so as to draw the latter :desirably taut. Additional lengths of cable @i6 are provided which extend between `the arched portions of the main support fra es and lare preferably `releasably attached to the latter at their ends so as to permit detachment and separate storage of the cables together with the guy cable loops when the support frames are taken .down and folded.

Means are provided which :are `detacha'bly engageable with the respective ybow members of the support frames and which comprise .a protective covering for the automobile ,38. As here shown each of the bow frame members and the Amain support frames including the side posts I2, are provided with snap fasteners 143 which are substantially uniformly relatively spaced and extend entirely along the outer surface of each member of `the end support frames between the opposite pivot hinges which permit folding of the frames along the longitudinal Y'plane of the shelterunit. A main cover sheet 48 composed of waterproof fabric, 'flexible sheet plastic or the .like is provided which is laid transversely across the shelter support substructure and is provided along opposite edges with fastener elements complementary and engageable with the snap fasteners 47 so as to attach the sheet '4l between the main frame including the posts I2 and bow members 3d, the transverse length of the sheet 48 being such that the opposite 'edges '49 of the .latter are disposed only an inch or so ab'ove the surface of the ground. Cover sheets 5l are `also provided extending between the singularly-disposed bow members of the end support frames the lowermost sheets '5I preferably having skirt portions 52 which extend downwardly to terminate just above the surface of the ground. If desired the cover sheets k5I may be made as separate units or they maybe combined to form single cover elements connectible as -units to their respective end support frames.

The structure of our 'invention above described is comparatively simple in :design which renders it capable of being easily handled and set up by a single person with little diillculty, which affords the maximum of protection for the sheltered automobile against the 'damaging eiects of dust, rain .or corrosive industrial fumes and which may be readily dismantled and reduced to a bundle of such compactness as to ,permit its convenient storage in a restricted volumetric space such as exists in the vluggage compartment of a vehicle. It will be seen 4fin'thermore that the simplicity of design renders the vshelter capable of being .manu- Vfactured to sell at 'a cost which will not :be prohibitive to the average buyer.

We claim:

l. A portable shelter for automobiles and the like comprising demountable relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U-shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, correspondingly shaped bow frames carried by said main frames and extending therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, guy members interconnecting certain of said frames and the ground for iixedly positioning the main frames relative to each other and to the ground, and sections of sheet material overlying and secured to said main and bow frames and covering said automobile.

2. A portable shelter for automobiles and the like comprising demountable relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U-shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, correspondingly shaped bow frames pivotally engaged with said main frame and movable from positions substantially parallel with the latter to positions extending angularly therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, guy members interconnecting certain of said frames and the ground for fixedly positioning the main frames relative to each other and to the ground, and sections of sheet material overlying and secured to said main and bow frames and covering said automobile.

3. A portable shelter for automobiles and the like, comprising demounta-ble relatively spaced ground-engaging mainA frames of normally U-shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, correspondingly shaped bow fra-mes pivotally engaged with said main frame and movable from positions substantially parallel with the latter to positions extending angularly therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, means cooperative between portions of said main and bow frames for prescribing the degree of angularity between the latter and the main frames, guy members interconnecting certain of said frames for xedly positioning the main frame relative to each other, and sections of sheet material overlying and secured to said main and bow frames and covering said automobile.

4. A portable shelter for automobiles and the like comprising demountable relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U-shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, correspondingly shaped bow frames carried by said main frames and extending therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, guy members interconnecting certain of said frames and the ground for fixedly positioning the main frames relative to each other and to the ground, fastener elements secured to and extending from at least a pair of relatively spaced frames, and sheet material overlying said main and bow frames and connected with said fasteners, said sheet material covering said automobile.

5. A portable shelter for automobiles and the like, comprising separate relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U- shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, correspondingly shaped bow frames pivotally engaged with said main frame and movable from positions substantially parallel with the latter to positions extending angularly therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, detachable guy members interconnecting certain of said frames and the ground for flxedly positioning the main frames relative to each other and to the ground, sheet material overlying Iand detachably secured to said frames Iand covering said automobile, and said main and bow frames when in relatively parallel positions being foldable upon themselves to reduce the frames to compact bundles.

6. A portable shelter for"automobiles and the like comprising separate relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U- shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and str-addling said automobile, said main frames comprising relatively spaced vertically-'extending post members arranged at opposite sides of said automobile and an arched top member pivotally engaged with upper end portions of said post members and extending transversely above said automobile, substantially U-shaped bow frames extending from said main frames and movable from positions substantially parallel with the latter to positions extending :angularly therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, said bow frames each comprising arm members pivotally connected Vwith said main frame post members and further comprising bow members pivotally engaged with outer end portions of said :arm members, detachable guy members interconnecting certain of said frames and secured to the ground for xedlir positioning the main frames relative to each other and to the ground, sheet material overlying and detachably secured to said frames and covering said automobile and said main and bow frames when in their aforesaid relatively parallel positions being foldable about the pivotal connections of the arched top member with the arm members respectively to reduce the frames to compact bundles.

7. A portable shelter for `automobiles and the like comprising separate relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U- shaped form disposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, said main frames comprising relatively spaced vertically-extending post members :arranged at opposite sides of said automobile and an arched top member pivotally engaged with upper end portions of said post members and extending transversely above said automobile, substantially U-shaped bouT frames extending from said main frames and movable from positions substantially parallel with the latter to positions extending rangularly therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said automobile, said bow frames each comprising arm members pivotally connected with said main frame post members yand further comprising bow members pivotally engaged vwith outer end portions of said arm members, detachable guy members each comprising lengthsof flexible cable formed in loops extending along opposite sides of said auto-mobile, said loops each having parallel rims detachably engaged with said main frames adjacent the top and bottom portions of the post members thereof, said loops further having end portions thereof attached to the ground at points adjacent the ends of said automobile, sheet material overlying and detachably secured to said frames and covering said automobile and said main and bow frames when in their aforesaid relatively parallel positions being foldable about the pivotal connections of the arched top member with the post members and the bow members with the arm members respectively to reduce the frames to compact bundles.

8. A Vportable shelter .for automobiles and the like comprising separate relatively spaced ground-engaging main frames of normally U- sl'iaped .form kdisposed intermediate the ends of and straddling said automobile, said main frames comprising `relatively spaced vertically-extending post .members arranged at opposite sides of said automobile and an arched 'top member pivotally engaged with upper end portions `of said post members land extending transversely above said automobile. substantially U-shaped bow frames extending from said main frames and movable from positions substantially parallel with the latter to ,positions extending angularly therefrom to overlie extreme end portions of said .automobile, said bow `frames each vcomprising arm .members pivotally .connected with said main frame post members and further comprising bow members pivotally .engaged with outer end portions of said arm members, means carried by the arm members of said bow frames engageable with said post .members when the bow frames are in extended positions for establishing prescribed degrecs of angularity between the bow Vframes and post members, detachable guy members inter- 8 connecting certain of said framesl and secured to the ground 'for .fixedly positioning .the :main frames relative to each .other vand to the ground. sheet .material overlying 4and detachably `secured to said frames and covering said automobile and said main and bow .frames lwhen in their afore said relatively parallel positions being foldable about the pivotal connections of the arched top member with the post .members and the bow members with the arm members respectively to reduce the frames to compact bundles.

SAMUEL MITCHELL.

ADAM GUIDRY.

REFERENCES ClTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2o Number Name Date 739,389 Castle ept. 22, i903 7%,036 McCall July 4, 1905 841,719 .Ross Jan. 22, 190'? 1,609,783 Padley Nov. 28, 1911 

